Reveille
More notes on KFC and senior citizens
By Ramon J. Farolan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:55:00 07/07/2008
MANILA, Philippines - First, a few entries on the recent 61st anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force.
While the main event was moved to Mactan from Villamor Air Base, the Dining-In program proceeded as scheduled at the grand ballroom of the Philippine Plaza. For those not familiar with military rituals, the Dining-In is a formal dinner held by a military organization often to mark a
special occasion. It serves as a tool for improving morale and esprit de corps among officers of the command.
The special guest for the evening was retired Brig. Gen. Felix T. Pestana, a member of Class 41-B of the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) Flying School. When I was assigned at the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) headquarters in Bangkok in the ’60s, General Pestana, one of
the oldest living Air Force officers, was the deputy chief, Military Planning Office at SEATO. The PAF prepared a huge three-tiered cake and General Pestana, accompanied by former commanding generals of the PAF, performed the ceremonial cutting of the cake.
The evening was marked by a lot of toasting and for me, what was most significant was the use of our native greeting “Mabuhay”—instead of “Cheers”—by the Air Force family. Credit for this nationalist touch must go to the commanding general of the PAF, Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog.
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Last week, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay directed his legal people to require a number of operators of KFC restaurants in Makati City to submit within 72 hours “a written letter under oath, explaining why your business permit should not be revoked and your establishment ordered
closed” pursuant to Section 10 of the provisions of Rep. Act No. 9257, otherwise known as the Senior Citizens Law.
Right off, let me say that this is perhaps the first time that a local government official has taken concrete action in support of the rights of senior citizens and we deeply appreciate the action of Mayor Binay in taking up our cause.
In requiring some explanation from the operators of KFC outlets in Makati, the Makati City Law Department took note of three specific complaints alleging: (1) that take-out purchases are not subject to the 20-percent senior citizen discount (SCD); (2) that senior citizens may avail themselves of the 20 percent SCD only once a day; and (3) that the SCD shall be limited only to the amount of P150.
The reply of these KFC operators—Bridgefield Corp., City Chix Inc., Newbest Business Corp., Olympus Foods Inc., Smiley Chix Inc., Sunny Smile Food Corp. and Tummy-Bliss Corp.—all represented by the Santiago & Santiago Law Offices, was basically as follows:
1. On the first issue regarding take-out purchases. KFC restaurants operated by the above-mentioned companies “allow the availment of the SCD for purchases, irrespective of whether the same are for ‘dine-in, take-out, or delivery.’
This is welcome news for senior citizens. It is the first time that KFC has officially declared that senior citizens can avail themselves of the discount for take-outs and delivery orders. The case of Dr. Estela Garcia of Quezon City comes to mind. She was denied her SCD on a take-out order for a bowl of arroz caldo by the KFC outlet located at the corner of Congressional and Mindanao Avenues in Quezon City operated by Olympus Foods Inc. In justifying their refusal to grant her a discount for a take-out bowl of arroz caldo, the KFC franchise explained that “as a matter of policy, the availment of the SCD is for ‘dine-in’ purchases only.” Now they are singing a different tune! It would be interesting to know when this company policy changed and why it was not made known to the general public for the information and guidance of senior citizens in particular.
2. On the second issue that senior citizens can avail themselves of the discount only once a day. The operators were silent in their reply submitted. Again the case of Melchor R. Flores comes to mind. He was not allowed to avail himself of the SCD for his dinner after enjoying the
same for merienda, on the same day.
3. As to the third issue—the imposition of a purchase limit of P150 for the availment of the SCD—the reply of the operators is quite lengthy but although I am not a lawyer, I do have a few comments which the Makati City Hall representatives might wish to consider.
The operators say that this “limitation is based on the qualification imposed by Rep. Act. No. 9257 and a study conducted on the average food consumption of senior citizens per meal.” The only qualification imposed by the law is that it must be for the exclusive use of senior citizens. Some senior citizens eat more than others. Why should they be limited to a dubious standard of “average food consumption” based on an alleged study that has not been validated by impartial food experts?
The operators also mention numerous cases of abuse whereby “non-senior citizens, usually relatives of senior citizens, availed of the benefits of SCD by means of large, family-sized food purchases.” First of all, why did the KFC outlet allow non-senior citizens to enjoy the benefits
of the SCD? But let us assume that there are cases of abuse by senior citizens. Certainly the solution to the problem is not to penalize an entire sector of society—some 6.5 million citizens—because of the wrongdoing of a few. In the same manner, there are business establishments
that abuse their tax privileges and benefits. Are we going to penalize the entire business community because of those few who abuse these privileges?
As I have mentioned in the past, we do not seek the closure of any business establishment in the country. We realize that business provides jobs for our people and that it is the engine of economic growth of the nation. But as senior citizens, we expect to be treated with respect and dignity, not like second-class natives subject to restrictions laid down by mere company policy in violation of the law of the land and its implementing rules and regulations.
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Last month, retired Brig. Gen. Madrino Muńoz, PMA class 1955, tendered a dinner in honor of AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano at the AFP Officers’ Club, Camp Aguinaldo. In attendance were some political leaders from Mindanao, including Sen. Miguel Zubiri and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez along with Sen. Rodolfo Biazon.
Paying tribute to General Yano that evening was his classmate, Rear Adm. Ferdinand Golez, head of the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales.
Golez declared: “To be a star, one must follow his own path and not be afraid of the darkness. For it is out there that stars shine brightest.”
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